Psalm 119[a]

א Aleph

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,(A)
    who walk(B) according to the law of the Lord.(C)
Blessed(D) are those who keep his statutes(E)
    and seek him(F) with all their heart—(G)
they do no wrong(H)
    but follow his ways.(I)
You have laid down precepts(J)
    that are to be fully obeyed.(K)
Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!(L)
Then I would not be put to shame(M)
    when I consider all your commands.(N)
I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws.(O)
I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me.(P)

ב Beth

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?(Q)
    By living according to your word.(R)
10 I seek you with all my heart;(S)
    do not let me stray from your commands.(T)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart(U)
    that I might not sin(V) against you.
12 Praise be(W) to you, Lord;
    teach me(X) your decrees.(Y)
13 With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.(Z)
14 I rejoice in following your statutes(AA)
    as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts(AB)
    and consider your ways.
16 I delight(AC) in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

ג Gimel

17 Be good to your servant(AD) while I live,
    that I may obey your word.(AE)
18 Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.
19 I am a stranger on earth;(AF)
    do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is consumed(AG) with longing
    for your laws(AH) at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant,(AI) who are accursed,(AJ)
    those who stray(AK) from your commands.
22 Remove from me their scorn(AL) and contempt,
    for I keep your statutes.(AM)
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
    your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

ד Daleth

25 I am laid low in the dust;(AN)
    preserve my life(AO) according to your word.(AP)
26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
    teach me your decrees.(AQ)
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
    that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.(AR)
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;(AS)
    strengthen me(AT) according to your word.(AU)
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;(AV)
    be gracious to me(AW) and teach me your law.
30 I have chosen(AX) the way of faithfulness;(AY)
    I have set my heart(AZ) on your laws.
31 I hold fast(BA) to your statutes, Lord;
    do not let me be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commands,
    for you have broadened my understanding.

ה He

33 Teach me,(BB) Lord, the way of your decrees,
    that I may follow it to the end.[b]
34 Give me understanding,(BC) so that I may keep your law(BD)
    and obey it with all my heart.(BE)
35 Direct me(BF) in the path of your commands,(BG)
    for there I find delight.(BH)
36 Turn my heart(BI) toward your statutes
    and not toward selfish gain.(BJ)
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life(BK) according to your word.[c](BL)
38 Fulfill your promise(BM) to your servant,
    so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace(BN) I dread,
    for your laws are good.
40 How I long(BO) for your precepts!
    In your righteousness preserve my life.(BP)

ו Waw

41 May your unfailing love(BQ) come to me, Lord,
    your salvation, according to your promise;(BR)
42 then I can answer(BS) anyone who taunts me,(BT)
    for I trust in your word.
43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth,(BU)
    for I have put my hope(BV) in your laws.
44 I will always obey your law,(BW)
    for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in freedom,
    for I have sought out your precepts.(BX)
46 I will speak of your statutes before kings(BY)
    and will not be put to shame,(BZ)
47 for I delight(CA) in your commands
    because I love them.(CB)
48 I reach out for your commands, which I love,
    that I may meditate(CC) on your decrees.

ז Zayin

49 Remember your word(CD) to your servant,
    for you have given me hope.(CE)
50 My comfort in my suffering is this:
    Your promise preserves my life.(CF)
51 The arrogant mock me(CG) unmercifully,
    but I do not turn(CH) from your law.
52 I remember,(CI) Lord, your ancient laws,
    and I find comfort in them.
53 Indignation grips me(CJ) because of the wicked,
    who have forsaken your law.(CK)
54 Your decrees are the theme of my song(CL)
    wherever I lodge.
55 In the night, Lord, I remember(CM) your name,
    that I may keep your law.(CN)
56 This has been my practice:
    I obey your precepts.(CO)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet; moreover, the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 119:33 Or follow it for its reward
  3. Psalm 119:37 Two manuscripts of the Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text life in your way

No Confidence in the Flesh

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,(A) and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs,(B) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision,(C) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,(D) and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.(E)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised(F) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,(G) of the tribe of Benjamin,(H) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;(I) as for zeal,(J) persecuting the church;(K) as for righteousness based on the law,(L) faultless.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss(M) for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing(N) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ(O) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,(P) but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness(Q) that comes from God on the basis of faith.(R) 10 I want to know(S) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,(T) becoming like him in his death,(U) 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection(V) from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(W) but I press on to take hold(X) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(Y) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(Z) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(AA) toward the goal to win the prize(AB) for which God has called(AC) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature(AD) should take such a view of things.(AE) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.(AF) 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example,(AG) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.(AH) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,(AI) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.(AJ) 19 Their destiny(AK) is destruction, their god is their stomach,(AL) and their glory is in their shame.(AM) Their mind is set on earthly things.(AN) 20 But our citizenship(AO) is in heaven.(AP) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,(AQ) 21 who, by the power(AR) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies(AS) so that they will be like his glorious body.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of

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